Online Anxiety Counselling
Anxiety can be crippling. You wake up every morning with the weight of worry heavy upon your shoulders. Even the simplest of tasks feels like climbing a mountain.
As you go about your day, anxiety is your constant companion, whispering doubts and fears into your ears. A storm brews inside you; your thoughts race like lightning and your heart pounds like thunder.
You try to get help; your doctor says you have a chemical imbalance, therapists tell you that your thinking is flawed. “Take SSRI’s or Benzos” say the doctors. “Think positive”, say the shrinks. Either way, they confirm that the problem is in you, and you are responsible for solving it. You don’t feel good when you take the drugs, and no matter how hard you try to stop them, those negative thoughts keep popping up. You beat yourself up for not being able to overcome your anxiety, and that makes you even more anxious. Anxiety is a never-ending vicious circle.
Complex trauma & anxiety
At Kintsugi Counselling we understand how paralyzing anxiety can be, and how difficult it can be to overcome it. We also believe that it is not your fault; that despite all the unproven speculation about genetic predisposition and biological markers, the primary risk factors for anxiety are social and environmental. In fact, we believe that most people who suffer from anxiety ‘disorders’ are, in reality, experiencing complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD).
Complex trauma underlies anxiety by profoundly impacting your nervous system, brain development, and overall psychological well-being. When you experience prolonged and repeated traumatic events, such as childhood abuse, neglect, or exposure to violence, your brain and body adapt in ways that can contribute to the development of anxiety symptoms.
The repeated exposure to trauma disrupts the normal functioning of your nervous system, leading to heightened arousal and hypervigilance. This means that your body and mind remain in a constant state of alertness, perceiving threats even in non-threatening situations, as a result, you experience intense feelings of anxiety, fear, and an overwhelming sense of danger.
Moreover, complex trauma impairs healthy brain development, particularly in the regions responsible for emotional regulation, memory, and fear processing. This can result in difficulties managing and expressing emotions, as well as an increased sensitivity to stress and anxiety-provoking situations.
Complex trauma also affects your psychological well-being by shaping your belief systems, self-perception, and interpersonal relationships. The negative experiences and messages you received during traumatic events can lead to distorted thinking patterns, low self-esteem, and a constant sense of vulnerability. These psychological factors contribute to the development and maintenance of anxiety.
If complex trauma creates anxiety disorders, then any treatment that hopes to be successful must work to resolve the underlying trauma.
NARM therapy & anxiety
NARM therapy resolves trauma and reduces anxiety symptoms by helping you develop a deeper understanding and connection with your authentic self. Through this therapeutic approach, we empower you to explore and heal the underlying unresolved issues that contribute to your anxiety.
NARM, which stands for NeuroAffective Relational Model, focuses on the integration of body sensations, emotions, and thoughts to address the impact of trauma. It recognizes that trauma not only affects your nervous system, but also disrupts your ability to form healthy relationships and regulate your emotions effectively.
At Kintsugi Counselling, you will work collaboratively with a Certified NARM Therapist to identify and process the core survival strategies that were developed during traumatic experiences. These survival strategies, such as dissociation, hyperarousal, or collapse, helped you to navigate the overwhelming events at the time but may have become maladaptive patterns in your life that contribute to your anxiety.
Through the NARM approach, you are supported in building awareness of these survival strategies and understanding how they manifest in your daily life. By recognizing and acknowledging these patterns, you can begin to disengage from them and develop healthier ways of responding to stress and triggers.
NARM therapy also emphasizes the importance of having an attuned and secure therapist. The therapeutic relationship provides a safe space to explore and express emotions, fears, and vulnerabilities. It allows you to develop trust and connection, which are essential for healing trauma and reducing anxiety.
NARM therapy at Kintsugi Counselling provides a holistic and empowering approach to resolving trauma and reducing anxiety symptoms. It allows you to reclaim your sense of self, heal from past experiences, and develop healthier coping mechanisms. Through this journey, you may gradually find greater peace, resilience, and freedom from the grip of anxiety.
Even if previous treatment attempts have failed, we want you to know that you are not alone; there are countless others who have faced similar challenges and found their way to healing and peace. You have the capacity to overcome anxiety, and with time, patience, and perseverance, you will find a path forward. Kintsugi Counselling is here for you; brighter days are right around the corner.